Song: Cruisin' for a Bruisin' by Ross Lynch, John DeLuca and Grace Phipps from the movie; Teen Beach Movie 

Chapter Thirteen: The brain sublimation only occurs to those who are ignorant

We walked into the warzone prepared. Kind of.

Mrs. Brooks and Mrs. Brooks were doing their own thing in different pots when we entered.

I cleared my throat announcing my presence.

"Mrs." I gestured to Aaron's mum.

I had the urge to call her Lady Tremaine.

You're not Cinderella.

Pity. No Prince Charming and escaping this for me. Pity for more the latter than the former though.

"Mrs. Nicholas Brooks."

She's going by my father's first name?

Well, what did you expect? That's usually how marriages work. Now your mother is Mrs. Brenda Brooks.

"It's so nice to meet you Mrs. Nicholas Brooks." I forced out with a smile.

Your acting's getting better.

I know right.

"It's so nice to meet you too Nova. And Nora, we've already met. You seemed like it came as a shock to you, opening the door to see your father you haven't seen in a while. My deepest condolences."

Cut the formalities. Condolences? Did someone die?

Someone doesn't have to die before you can sympathize.

Oh.

"Of course." Reveka replied.

I feel tension in the air. It's making me choke. It couldn't be accidental.

Do you think now is the best time to sing your altered version of a song?

Yes.

I'm such an idiot.

"Oh hi mum." I went to hug her.

"Hello sweetie. Why were you out so late?"

"I was with Zahra."

"Oh. How's her mum doing? Last I heard you said you went to see her because her mum was sick."

Oh crap. 

You lied about that too, so what's the problem?

"She's all better now. It was probably just a cold."

"Oh. That's great then."

"Is dinner ready?"

"It's supposed to be, but Mrs. Nicholas Brooks here," She gestured to the woman with a smile that I read as 'She's driving me crazy'. "Said I was doing it all wrong and started to make her own changes to it. Then she ordered, I mean advised me to make another edible meal with my time."

"She did, did she?"

"That's my mum for ya." Anastasia walked into the kitchen with a proud smile and side-hugged her mother.

"I would be proud too if my mother walked into her husband's ex-wife's house and started ordering her around. Right Reveka?"

She smiled mischievously. "Of course. I mean how would I not? I would give so many astounding commendations just to that simple action."

"That's so sweet of you Reveka. Don't you think so Mrs. Nicholas Brooks?" I asked, my tone dripping with venom.

"Yes darling. So sweet." She said with a clearly forced smile.

*scoff* Someone needs to take some acting lessons from you.

I know right.

She turned back to what she was doing. My mum gave us a warning look, and we sent her an innocent smile, before she went back to whatever she was doing.

I can't believe she's going along with this.

Some people are just lost without having all they once knew and loved.

Not everyone you lose is a loss. When people walk away from you, let them go. Your destiny isn't tied to theirs. It doesn't mean their bad people, it just means the part they played in your story is cut out. They'll live their lives and you'll live yours. It's not going to be easy, but it's inevitable. I learnt that the hard way.

"What did whatever you and your sister said even mean?"

"Poor girl." I patted her shoulder. "All the bits and pieces gone. All sublimed." I walked past her and up to Reveka.

She's probably getting tired of everything you're saying.

Good. That'll stop her from speaking to me. Three clones are enough to last a lifetime, I don't need an additional one, especially not one I have to deal with after school.

"Where were you when I came in?" I asked as we walked out of the kitchen and towards the stairs.

"When I saw dad at the door, I may kind of have slammed the door in his face and stormed away. I hadn't come down since then. Mum probably let them in. Now where were you?"

"Like I said, Zahra's."

"I called all your friends and you weren't with any of them."

Busted. 

Stop that and help me think of something.

I didn't need to anyways because she had already come up with a conclusion. "You were at Zane's house, weren't you?"

"Yes?"

She squealed. I'll take it she decided that was a statement and not a question.

"I'm so happy for you! You finally found someone and quit being grumpy all the time. Tell me all about it." She ordered as she dragged me to her room.

I groaned. This can't be happening.

********************

"Girls! Come down! Dinner's ready."

After about 20 minutes of trying to make up stupid stuff that Zane and I did on the date, mum was finally calling us down.

Everything was worse now. I denied the rumors Zane started and Anastasia spread about me and Zane going on a date. My friends and literally everyone in the freaking parking lot saw me leave with him.  I wasn't at home so that was proof enough for anyone who thought I was going on a date with him. I told Anastasia that Zane and I had fun on our 'date' out of spite. And now, I just told my sister what happened on a date that didn't happen! This is definitely going to come back and bite me in the ass.

You were with him though.

Yeah, but not like that. Plus, we were with Wren and it wasn't even for long.

We jogged down the stairs and into the dining room where everyone was already sitting. Dad was at the head of the table.

Who gave him the authority?

I know right. The nerve of this guy.

We had a table fit for eight. Three on each side and one at each head. 

My mum was on his left with two empty chairs beside her. His wife was on his right followed by Anastasia then Aaron.

Reveka seemed to share my thoughts about authorities because she was staring at dad incredulously.

"Girls? Won't you come and sit down?"

Reveka headed for the chair beside mum while I, having as big a head as I do, headed to the other head of the table.

Before I could sit, Mrs. Nicholas Brooks' voice froze me to a spot. "You can't sit there."

"And why not?"

"I don't know about your family but in mine, people with authority, the most respected people sit at the head."

"We don't seem to be practicing that now." My eyes flickered to dad's distraught face. 

It serves him right. Every bad thing that happens to him serves him right. He needs to pay one way or the other for the way he treated my mum those months two years ago. I don't give a flying duck about how he found himself and restrained from his alcohol, because his drinks may have gone, but the pain my mum felt those months would follow her. And that is all his fault.

"Charvi! Behave!" Mum reprimanded. 

I looked at her in silent question.

"Just please sit down beside Reveka." Her eyes were pleading.

Come on, Charvi. You don't want to cause her more stress than what she's already going through.

"Fine." I muttered and went to sit beside Reveka.

"I wish I thought of that." She whispered to me and I just smiled.

After we prayed, and the food was served, there was silence. Nobody was ready to talk to anybody. Everyone seemed to notice except Aaron who was really enjoying his pasta.

Mum just had to break the beautiful tension-filled silence. "So Arabella, I heard you started school with Charvi. How's that going?"

"It's going good. Classes aren't that hard."

"My dear Arabella has always been a smart cookie." Her mum praised and she smiled proudly.

I don't think it's Anastasia they're talking about.

Yeah. The one I know has more than a few loose screws.

"Is Nova as smart as Arabella?" Her mum asked.

Reveka snorted. "From the little conversations I'd had with her, I'd say Charvi's smarter."

Her mum was about to reply when the brilliant Anastasia whined. "Can you please go by the names Nora and Nova? The name's Charlotte and Rachel confuse me."

I said "It's Charvi" at the same time Reveka said "It's Reveka".

"You see. This is why I prefer Nova and Nora."

"You don't seem to prefer Nova in school."

She shot me a warning look. "I don't?"

Warning me? Who does she think she is?

"No. You don't. You and your friends prefer Charity."

Her mother's expression and the one my dad shared with my mum were polar opposites. Her mum looked so excited and happy. And I soon found out why.

She placed a hand on her chest. "Goodness gracious! She has friends. I knew you were popular in your old school but I didn't know how these schools work. I'm so happy. I have the perfect daughter." She hugged Anastasia. 

Apparently, that's the only part she got out of what I said.

My mum and dad, on the other hand, had distraught expressions. They seemed to share my sentiments.

"They call you Charity?" My dad asked. First thing he's said since we sat down.

"I wonder why." I scoffed.

"Sorry Nova. People are such meanies." Aaron said as he looked up at me.

I gave him a grateful smile. 

Such a sweetie.

A pity he's stuck with them.

I know right.

"I didn't know." My mum said with a broken voice.

"Oh no. No, no, no, no, no. Don't give me those pitiful glances. It's just four clueless girls that do that. It doesn't hurt one bit." Doesn't it? "I tried to tell them they're wasting their time, but the brain sublimation only occurs to those who are ignorant."

For the love of God, enough with the sublimation.

"Again with that sublime word. I don't even know what it means." Anastasia whined.

Should we start calling her by her real name?

She calls me Charity. It's only fair. I wouldn't want to rid her of the wonderful opportunity to be given a name by me.

"A smart cookie, huh?" Reveka muttered with a hint of amusement.

I laughed. "A smart cookie indeed."

"You girls are different. What happened?" Dad asked.

"We grew up." I answered.

"Sorry you missed it." Reveka replied.

"I didn't miss that much. Two years hasn't been that long."

Has he lost his mind?

Maybe his life without us wasn't as difficult as our lives without him. Two years has felt close to hell for me and I hated him so much because I missed him more. But he seriously doesn't believe that he could just walk back in with his new family like nothing has changed. Because the three new people on the table are enough proof.

I dropped my fork and matched his piercing gaze. "Correction; it's two years and counting."

"Nova."

"Yes?"

"I came back for a reason."

"Is that so?"

"I missed you guys."

"Then why did you leave?"

The whole table was silent. I didn't want to have to this here, but he brought it up and I'm not going to back down now.

"I did it for you. At that time, I wasn't what was good for you."

"Am I supposed to say thank you?" I scoffed.

"No, you're not supposed to, but you weren't supposed to be this angry."

"Maybe if you called or visited, you'd have found out earlier. Anger is what tends to happen when people are hurt. What did you expect? You left me. I was your freaking daughter!" Reveka exclaimed. 

I'm glad she took over. She's way stronger than I am and I love her for that.

"Was?"

"Yes. Was. The moment you walked through that door and didn't come back, you lost your family. But that doesn't bother you, does it? Showing up here, two years later with your new family."  Tears were brimming her eyes now and she frantically wiped them away with the back of her hand.

"I missed you, dammit." She groaned. "I wish I didn't but I did."

"I did it for you Nora."

"For me?" She scoffed. "You can't possibly be serious."

"Girls, it's okay." Mum warned.

"No, it's not. Have we even heard an apology yet? Because all he seems to be saying is you're welcome."

"A divorce is an agreement between two people."

"Yeah, you and the front door you walked out of." Reveka scoffed.

"Your mum is okay with it. She seems to be doing just fine."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine my ass. Was there even an alimony?" I butted in.

"I got the house." Mum tried to soothe.

"Is that all? After what we both know he did?"

His eyes flashed to mine. "What are you talking about?"

"I was speaking to my mum." I bit out. I turned back to her. "You let him take everything. You didn't let your lawyers fight for us. Why mum?"

She didn't reply.

"If this is love, I rather remain lonely for the rest of my life."

"That's not what you're supposed to teach your children." Mrs. Nicholas Brooks said.

I had a strong urge to tell to shut her trap.

Do it.

Like I said, you're supposed to tell me the right things to do not the wrong ones.

That's why I said you should do it.

"Excuse me?" Mum questioned, eyebrows drawn together.

"I said the morals you're teaching your children are all wrong."

"Rich coming from a woman who taught her daughter to bully other students."

"Is she talking about me?" Anastasia pointed to herself.

"Please, for the love of God, don't say another word." I begged.

"Don't tell me to shut up. You have no right."

"Nova. Nora." Dad called.

"What?" We echoed.

"I wanted to apologize."

"Save it for someone who wants it." Reveka snorted still trying to fight the tears.

"I thought you just said you did."

"I didn't say I wanted it. I said you should give it just so I could deny it."

He looked down at his plate. "I did what I had to do."

"Would you please stop saying that? You didn't have to do it. You didn't have to do anything, but stay. Everyone has a choice. They just try so hard to ignore the other option. Remember what you said to me in the corridor. You said 'Just because I'm your mother's ex-husband doesn't mean I'm not your father' or something like that."

"Yes."

"Fathers are there for their children. Did you know that? Were you? Did you call? Send an email, a text message? Where were you all those nights I couldn't sleep because my head was clouded with thoughts of insecurity? So please, don't try and bring up being a father to us if you don't know what you're talking about."

He just stared and stared and stared at us like he didn't recognize who he was talking to.

"I'm ready to go home now." Aaron interrupted the silence. "I'm done with my pasta and you guys seem to be done with what you're talking about."

"Of course son. We're done eating too." Dad said.

"Does that mean we won't be coming back next week Monday?" Anastasia asked.

"We'll just have to see."

"Bye Aaron." I greeted. He's the only one I actually like.

You love your father.

No. I loved having a father. Too bad good things never last.

"Bye Nova."  He waved at me then he looked down and started playing with his thumbs. "I'm sorry I won't be able to tell you about Power Rangers today. Maybe next time."

"Of course." I smiled at him as he lifted his head.

I stood up. "Good night." I didn't say it to anyone in particular because I didn't want to make it obvious I was only speaking to mum and Reveka. I didn't want to be rude.

It's kind of too late for that.

Oh well. What's done is done. 

I went to sleep with a knot in my stomach. That conversation did not go down well with me.

*****************************

I wasn't feeling better the next morning when Kai came to pick me up.

Reveka had hitched a ride with Sam and his personal driver along with Ella and Chloe. She said they were stopping at an eatery before they could head on to school.

"You cannot believe what happened!" Leyla screamed as she dashed over to where Kai had just parked in the lot.

A squealing girl is definitely not going to make me feel better.

******************************

I hope that was as good as it was planned in my head.

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